Champion x Urban Outfitters AW13
Monolithic sportswear brand Champion continues its steamroll into the lifestyle market this autumn with their third consecutive seasonal collaboration with high street mainstay Urban Outfitters. First introduced in autumn 2012, the Champion x Urban Outfitters capsule range has only grown in strength and style as the seasons have progressed. Those serious about the gym will know that the quality of the threads you wear is a serious and often overlooked consideration. Fortunately, Champion are able to trade on their legacy and extensive sportswear heritage, guaranteeing value and authenticity. As what is often considered the first American brand of its kind, the heritage athletic apparel company digs deep into its almost century-long history in search of inspiration for the autumn/winter 2013 collection, drawing on classic Champion clothing silhouettes from the 1950s whilst maintaining a modern edge via contemporary colour ways and fits. As gym wear garments, Champion’s pieces have the potential to become year-round staples, with their sporting origins and retro styling belying a seriously on trend streetwear influence. Tapered cuffs, which many clothing companies have in recent years attempted (with debatable success) to introduce to non-athletic trousers, make a reappearance, as do marled red and grey cottons – giving them a modish, vintage appeal. The five piece menswear collection features all the essentials: fleece sweatpants, crew neck sweatshirt, a colour-blocked American football t-shirt, a classic jersey t-shirt and a camouflage-printed coaches jacket, all modelled in the lookbook by American Olympic fencer/fashion model Race Imboden. The collection is available now in Urban Outfitters US stores.